Under the influence of an invisible, fathomless force, the massive mountain peak roared as it tumbled toward the foothills. The earth trembled, and clouds of dust billowed into the air. Amidst the earth-shaking commotion, the animals and aberrations within the forest fled in terror. All living creatures turned their gazes toward the source of the disturbance, where they beheld a colossal mountain range cleanly severed by a horizontal cut. Was this the work of a legendary yokai warlord or one of the fabled yokai kings? Yet, remarkably, no powerful demonic energy had erupted during the strike.
At that moment, near the edge of the severed mountain and before the massive, smooth incision, Inuyasha and the others remained frozen in shock. The half-demon youth, usually bold and unyielding, felt his legs go weak as he slumped to the ground before this display of divine might. Recalling that he had just been facing such power, Inuyasha found it inconceivable that he was still alive. It was clear he had almost entirely lost his will to fight.
"This grand power should never have reappeared in this world. Even at its minimum output, it is difficult to control. Using it... was indeed a desperate measure," the miko said calmly, holding her long Ge as she addressed the group. After a long period of stunned silence, Inuyasha finally managed to speak.
"Why... why did you let me go?" Inuyasha asked hollowly. It was obvious that surviving such an exaggerated attack was beyond belief. Inuyasha knew he shouldn't have stood a chance at blocking or dodging that strike; the only reason he was still breathing was that the opponent had stayed her hand and held back at the final moment. Hearing his words, the miko turned her gaze toward the side, looking at the shattered remnants of the demonic sword lying in two pieces on the ground.
"Because of this blade, and your status as the son of a Great Yokai."
"The blade? My status as the son of a dog yokai?" Inuyasha felt bewildered, unable to fathom why she would spare him because of Tessaiga.
Just as Inuyasha was about to ponder the matter further, the miko suddenly turned away, appearing ready to depart. Seeing this, Inuyasha immediately stood up and shouted anxiously, "Wait!"
Hearing him, the miko glanced back slightly, her sharp gaze causing Inuyasha to flinch. He stepped back instinctively, but when he caught sight of the unconscious Kagome in the distance, he clenched his fists, steadied himself, and looked directly at the peerless enemy before him. Observing the dog yokai youth's determined stance, the miko then looked toward the empty shell of a girl soaking in the ceramic basin. After a brief sigh, she reached out and placed her hand over her own chest. Suddenly, a soft, ethereal light radiated from her breast, and a modest soul-fire was drawn out. Accompanied by her prayer, the flickering flame drifted away from her body and flew into Kagome's physical form in the distance.
"This is..." Both Inuyasha and Kaede muttered in a daze. The miko spoke to answer them.
"I have divided this single soul into two and implanted a jutsu-shiki to aid its function. I have returned Kagome's consciousness and memories along with half of her soul. When she wakes, she will be no different from the person you once knew."
Hearing the miko's explanation, Inuyasha was overcome with joy. Although he couldn't get all of Kagome's soul back, it was enough as long as she could return to normal. However, Kaede asked in surprise and doubt, "Is only half a soul truly sufficient?"
"For a soul with such immense spiritual power, yes. However, half is the absolute limit. Now, the soul you requested has been returned. It is time for me to go." As she spoke, the miko began to walk into the distance. Once again, Inuyasha called out to her.
"Hey! Tha—Thank you! Also, what is your name?"
Hearing the question, the miko paused for a moment. Without turning around, she spoke slowly.
"Kikyo."
"Huh? You're Kikyo too?" Inuyasha and Kaede were stunned once again. The miko then added one more thing.
"If you wish to distinguish me from my reincarnation, then remember: my surname is Su."
In a dense forest not far from the site of the demon hag Urasue's base, the miko—still dressed in her red and white robes and covered in fissures—walked through the shadows. Her expression was indifferent and her steps firm, yet a voice continued to echo in her ears.
'Why? Why did you discard half the soul to let that girl return to life, while leaving yourself and me trapped in this clay body?'
"Because in the eyes of reason, you and I are both dead. Only she is among the living. In this era, she is the true master of this soul. She is our present self. If we were to forcibly seize her soul, we would be no better than common ghosts," the miko replied calmly to the interrogation. But the consciousness of 'Kikyo' immediately countered sharply.
'You just said a soul can only be divided in half at most. Now that we share this remaining half, it cannot be split again. Do you intend for us to be trapped together forever?'
"Of course we will not be trapped. Though we have been distinguished as different consciousnesses due to the memories of different lifetimes, we are essentially one soul. As long as we coexist for a sufficient time, we will eventually merge."
Hearing her words, the other consciousness reacted even more violently.
'Merge? No! I don't want any merger! That would dilute my resentment! It would dilute my hatred for Inuyasha! I refuse!' Kikyo spoke with intense emotion. Hearing her words, the miko stopped and turned to look back in the direction of the battlefield.
"It seems your resentment toward that half-demon bloodline of the Western Provinces' yokai king is truly deep. If it isn't resolved, you won't cooperate with me, will you?" the miko said with a sigh. If the soul's consciousnesses were not unified, many of her future tasks would be extremely difficult to accomplish.
"In that case, could you tell me... what exactly is the entanglement between you, my reincarnation, and that half-demon youth?" the miko asked slowly. Hearing this, the resentful Kikyo was taken aback before she began to respond.
'Are you... intending to help me seek revenge and dissolve my hatred?'
"That depends on the situation. Regardless, I need to know what happened between you," the miko continued. After a long silence, the resentful Kikyo began her narration.
After hearing the story, the miko gained a general understanding of her reincarnation's situation and the conflict between her and the half-demon youth named Inuyasha. After organizing the facts in her mind, the miko questioned Kikyo.
"So, you were a miko wandering this Sengoku era, protecting a powerful treasure known as the Shikon Jewel. Relying on your immense spiritual power and innate exorcism talent, you protected it from many demons and evils. That half-demon youth, Inuyasha, was once one of the yokai who came to steal the jewel, but through your repeated encounters, you developed feelings for each other and became mutually dependent. You even intended to abandon your duties as a miko for that youth and become an ordinary woman, and he promised to use the power of the Shikon Jewel to become human so you could be together."
The miko continued, and after a long silence, the resentful Kikyo finally squeezed out a response.
"However, just as everything was progressing smoothly, Inuyasha suddenly ambushed you. He wounded you severely when your guard was down and stole the Shikon Jewel?" the miko continued. This time, the resentful Kikyo responded with unusual speed.
'Yes! His goal was likely the Shikon Jewel from the very beginning. He approached me just to make me lower my guard so he could seize the moment to steal the jewel!' Kikyo continued, her tone filled with obvious fury.
"Afterward, Inuyasha attacked the village once more to steal the Shikon Jewel that had been returned there. At that moment, you used a sealing arrow to bind him, and you died shortly after from your previous wounds."
'Correct. That is the beginning and end of my hatred for him. I cannot forgive his betrayal.'
"Then here is the question," the miko asked. "How did the Shikon Jewel, which had been stolen by Inuyasha, reappear in your village for him to steal it again?"
Hearing this, the resentful Kikyo was stunned. She thought for a long time before saying, 'That... it seems some nearby villagers found it and returned it to the shrine. Perhaps Inuyasha accidentally dropped it.'
"Would a treasure that he spent so much effort to seize, using every scheme to gain your trust and finally obtaining it after ten thousand hardships, really be lost so easily?" the miko said bluntly. Being called out by her predecessor, the resentful Kikyo felt her consciousness fluctuate. 'Whether human or yokai, anyone can have a moment of oversight. Besides, Inuyasha is naturally reckless. It's not impossible that it fell from him while he was fleeing.'
"Fell from him? Didn't you just say that yokai covet the power of the Shikon Jewel because it brings immense demonic energy? So, what is the method yokai use to employ such a treasure?" the miko questioned further. After thinking for a moment, Kikyo spoke in a daze.
'They... they swallow it...'
"Very good. Then how do you think a swallowed jewel could be lost?" Hearing the miko's words, the resentful Kikyo fell silent once again. After a long while, she replied.
'There is indeed a problem with that... but it is an absolute fact that Inuyasha came back to attack the village and steal the Shikon Jewel!'
"And... during that second raid, he ignored you even though you were severely wounded. Instead, after taking the jewel, he only thought of running. Eventually, you caught the opportunity to seal him with an arrow. He clearly knew the guardian miko was badly injured and her fighting capacity was greatly reduced. Why would he choose such a passive strategy of avoiding confrontation? If I were him, I would have finished you off first rather than focusing only on the jewel. Why was he running? Could it be he didn't know you were hurt?" The miko continued her interrogation, leaving the resentful Kikyo speechless. It was quite a while before she spoke again.
'What are you trying to say?'
"I'm not trying to say anything other than that the series of events you described is filled with too many holes and suspicious points. And you somehow didn't notice them? Did sweet love make you lower your guard, and did hatred blind your eyes? Calm down, Kikyo. Do not be a vengeful spirit filled only with resentment," the miko said sternly. Having the situation pointed out to her, Kikyo realized things were indeed wrong and fell into a long silence. Finally, she spoke quietly.
'This matter is indeed quite strange. I was truly irrational at the time and didn't notice... but Inuyasha's ambush felt so real.'
"The eyes are the easiest senses to deceive. There are countless arts in this world, and too many of them can trick the eyes. As a miko, you must be more perceptive." After finishing her sentence, the miko looked up through the tree canopy at the blue sky.
"In that case, Kikyo, would you like to hear my proposal?"
"What proposal?"
"We will investigate the truth of what happened between you and Inuyasha together. We will find the mastermind behind the scenes and settle your resentment. After that, we shall merge, and I will go to complete my long-cherished wish," the miko proposed. Kikyo remained silent for a while before she spoke slowly.
'Very well. I also want to see who the culprit behind all this is. Furthermore, I sense that the Shikon Jewel has returned to this era, likely brought by our reincarnation. As a miko who protects the jewel, I must see it properly settled.'
"No problem."
"One last thing. I need to ask you..." At this moment, Kikyo spoke again, her expression serious. "As my predecessor, you possess such terrifying and appalling power. Who exactly are you? And what is your wish?"
Hearing her words, the miko paused briefly, then looked toward the sky and answered slowly.
"I am no one special, merely a person who serves a divine being. Because of the short lifespan of a human, I once passed away with the regret of no longer being able to serve that existence. Now, my wish is simple: to return to her side and serve her forever."
After returning from the demon hag Urasue's lair to the village, the unconscious Kagome soon woke up and quickly recovered from her weakened state. Seeing Kagome safe and sound, Inuyasha finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
A few days later, in the early morning, they stood by the Bone-Eater's Well on the outskirts of the village.
"Hey, Kagome, are you going back so soon? It's only been a few days, and we've only found a few shards!" Standing by the well, Inuyasha spoke with some dissatisfaction as he watched Kagome struggle to shove her bicycle into it.
Kagome replied loudly, "Haven't I told you already? I have an important exam to go back for! Exams! I have to go back and cram for a few days right now, or I'm doomed!"
"Tch... it's that yokai called 'Exams' again. Kagome, let me go over there and tear it to pieces!"
"Sit!"
"Gah!"
Using the kotodama to force Inuyasha out of his attempt to jump into the well, Kagome breathed a sigh of relief as she finally managed to get most of the bicycle through the opening.
"Anyway, Inuyasha, just wait here like a good boy. I'll be back in a while." As she spoke, Kagome plummeted down the dry well along with her bicycle. During the descent, she was momentarily enveloped by a dazzling light.
Floating within that radiance, Kagome's expression dimmed slightly. She placed a hand over her heart and began to drift into thought.
'Do I only have half a soul now? Although daily life feels the same, sometimes I still feel an emptiness in my heart.'
'Was that incredibly powerful miko also my past life? She must be the one the god mentioned as her own miko. Argh! Why are my past lives all so strong? We're clearly the same soul, so why did it suddenly become... well, like this when it reached me? Sigh...'
Amidst Kagome's thoughts, the surrounding light vanished. She was standing at the bottom of the well once more, having returned to the modern era.
At that moment, at the Higurashi Shrine, a golden-haired girl in a miko outfit suddenly sat up and turned her head to look into the distance. She was looking in the direction of the Higurashi Shrine's grounds.
"She's back, but it seems something unusual has occurred." Her white fox ears twitched slightly as Miketsu, sensing the causality link, murmured to herself.
"It seems I must go and investigate."
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